DAVIS, Calif. — Wearing a mask might be more helpful for people who already contracted the coronavirus than for those looking to prevent it, according to a UC Davis health expert.
"They can be useful in protecting yourself against getting infected, but the problem is you have to wear them almost constantly. And, you have to wear them appropriately, and you can't reach under the mask to scratch your nose or anything like that. Then, you're like totally bypassing it," said Dr. Dean Blumberg, a specialist in Pediatric Infectious Diseases.
The California Department of Public Health has confirmed three cases of novel coronavirus in California: one in Santa Clara County, one in Los Angeles County, and one in Orange County.
Blumberg said the virus can cause a severe lower respiratory tract infection in the lungs, which can be severe for people with pneumonia.
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When it comes to protecting yourself, he says it's more useful for people who are already sick or showing symptoms to wear a mask than those trying to prevent it, even then not just any mask will do.
A mask with N95 "means they'll filter out 95 percent of the infectious pathogens, not 100%, but 95%. So, that's good. And, that's better for example than the regular surgical masks that you see," said Blumberg.
If you want to avoid it, Blumberg says practicing proper cough etiquette and washing your hands is a good start. He says the virus can be transmitted within only six-feet of someone coughing or sneezing.
"Hopefully, people coughing or sneezing use cough etiquette, cough into their sleeve, not into their hand which would then spread it everywhere," Blumberg said.
For now, UC Davis senior Caitlyn Chaese isn't too concerned about becoming ill from the coronavirus.
"I have been cautious of people who are sick if they're coughing," said Chaese. "I'll sit on the other side of the classroom from them, but wash my hands and go on about my day."
State health officials say the potential spread of the virus may be worrying for some, but the risk to the general public in California is low.
Accounting majors Shirly Mcalister and Jane Sin are originally from China. Sin is from Hong Kong and Mcalister is from Shangdong Province, northeast of the city of Wuhan, where the outbreak began.
But, they too have little concern about the virus for the moment.
"I think it's kind of OK for now... no one is really doing anything," said Sin.
"Right now in California it's safe. And, I think there is not a big issue on campus," Mcalister said.
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